Articles

Hudson Valley: Fact Sheet

Published: Feb 27, 2014

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This
region's magnificent landscapes have inspired generations of artists, writers
and statesmen. Just north of Manhattan, beside the majestic Hudson River,
discover palatial historic homes, charming riverside villages and celebrated
farm-fresh cuisine. Shopping options range from country antique shops to
Woodbury Common, the world's largest collection of designer outlets. Acclaimed
museums and theaters present cultural treasures and great performances. Boscobel
House & Gardens-a grand estate overlooking the US Military Academy at West
Point-features the renowned Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival that attracts
over 30,000 fans every summer.

MAJOR CITIES &
TOWNS

CLIMATE

The
diverse climate has four distinct seasons. Summers are comfortable and warm,
with daytime temperatures averaging in the mid 70s to mid 80s (degrees F) and
cooler evenings. The weather is moderately cool and sunny in springtime and
autumn, when spectacular fall foliage attracts thousands of visitors. Cold,
snowy winters create a wonderland of magnificent scenery along the riverside
and in quaint villages and towns.

THREE SURPRISING
FACTS

1. You can stay in an
historic medieval-style castle just 25 miles north of New York City. The
Castle-on-Hudson luxury hotel, on a hilltop above the Hudson River in Tarrytown,
was built in 1897 as a private home. The interior woodwork and furnishings were
created by a team of artisan carpenters from Germany.

2. America's famous
Appalachian Trail, a section of which runs right past the Bear Mountain
Trailside Museum & Wildlife Center, was actually started in the Hudson
Valley.

3. Painter and
illustrator Norman Rockwell lived in New Rochelle and used that town as
inspiration for his artwork in The
Saturday Evening Post.

SPORTS &
OUTDOORS

Boating and Kayaking: The Hudson River,
Long Island Sound and smaller streams and lakes offer many options for boating,
canoeing and kayaking. Sailing courses are available on Long Island Sound with
theNew York Sailing School at New
Rochelle, and on the river with Great Hudson Sailing, a boat dealership in West
Haverstraw, and Hudson Sailing in Kingston, which also offers charters.

Fishing: State parks such
as Bear Mountain, Harriman and Lake Taghkanic, as well as many of the region's more
than 30 campgrounds and preserves offer fishing and boat launches. Guide
services can help you find the best fishing spots.

Hunting: Although most
famous for antique hunting, the Hudson Valley also has several hunting
preserves and sporting clays, hunting guide services, and state parks and
forests open for hunting turkey, large and small game, and coyote during the
appropriate seasons. Find license and other information at Hudson Valley's
regional website or http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7844.html

Golf: Golfers of all
levels enjoy award-winning courses throughout the region, including the
Casperkill Country Club in Poughkeepsie, with a championship course designed by
Robert Trent Jones, Sr.; Mills-Norrie State Park; and the beautiful and
historic West Point Golf Course.

Hiking and Biking: Thousands of miles
of waterside, wooded and mountain trails throughout the region offer views of
stunning landscapes and wildlife such as ducks, beavers, deer and foxes. A
35-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail runs through the region near Bear
Mountain State Park. The Mohonk Preserve in Gardiner has 70 miles of carriage
roads and multi-use trails on 6,500 acres. Built on a former railroad bed, the
paved 15-mile Harlem Valley Rail Trail begins at the Metro North Railroad Station
in Wassaic and Walkway over the Hudson Poughkeepsie. Blue
Mountain Reservation in Peekskill is now a park with hiking, fishing, and a
nationally known mountain biking center.

Rock Climbing: The ancient cliffs
of the Shawangunk Mountains are a world-renowned rock climbing area, accessible
from the Mohonk Preserve in Gardiner.

Winter Sports: Downhill ski areas
include Catamount, Mt. Peter, Sawkill Family Center, Thunder Ridge and Tuxedo
Ridge. Rocking Horse Ranch also features downhill and cross-country skiing.
Fahnestock Winter Park, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, and the Mohonk Mountain
House in New Paltz have cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. Other parks
throughout the region offer ice-skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and
snowmobiling.

Zipline Adventures:
Big
Bear Zip Lines in Hyde Park let you fly through the woodlands at 30mph, climb
fire truck ladders, swoop down Tarzan vines, and take in amazing views.

Nature Centers: Several nature
centers in the region include the Bear Mountain Trailside Museum & Wildlife
Center at Bear Mountain State Park and the Mohonk Preserve, a sanctuary in the Shawangunk Mountains.

Scenic Byways: The 88-mile
Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway winds through the Shawangunks, a paradise for
hikers, rock climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Towns and villages along
the trail blend historic sites with restaurants and shops, including a thriving
population of artisan studios.

Kaatsbaan
International Dance Center (Tivoli). Watch music and dance productions in the
160-seat theatre.

Olana State
Historic Site (Hudson).
The mansion and landscape designed by Hudson River School painter Frederic
Church is perhaps his greatest masterpiece. The Moorish/Persian-style home and
studio are open for tours.

Sugar Loaf Arts
& Crafts Village (Sugar
Loaf). Explore artist studios and galleries in buildings that date back to the
1700s and 1800s.

Ulster Performing
Arts Center (Kingston).A full calendar of events features
nationally known performers.

HISTORY

Franklin D
Roosevelt Home Museum and Library National
Historic Site
(Hyde Park). Explore the home and
gardens of the 32nd President of the US. Take the shuttle up to Top Cottage to
enjoy the view from the porch where FDR entertained world leaders.

Historic Huguenot
Street
(New Paltz). Guided tours of homes dating back to the 1600s begin at the
Visitor Center.

Hurley Heritage
Society Museum
(Hurley). The home of Col. Jonathan Elmendorf, built in 1783, is now a local
history museum.

Kiersted House (Saugerties). The
1727 house museum presents tours and special events.

Kykuit, the
Rockefeller Estate
(Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown). Visit Sleepy
Hollow's landmark home to four generations of the Rockefeller family. Tour the
mansion, gardens, and galleries that display a renowned 20th-century
art collection.

Lyndhurst (Sleepy
Hollow/Tarrytown) This stunning Gothic Revival-style mansion, designed by the
renowned American architect A. J. Davis in 1838, was the home of railroad
tycoon Jay Gould.

Montgomery Place (Annandale-on-Hudson).
The 380-acre house museum and property reflect Hudson Valley estate life over nearly
200 years.

Olana
State Historic Site (Hudson). Guided tours of the mansion and grounds
highlight the life of the 19th-century Hudson River School artist, Frederic
Church.

Philipsburg Manor (Sleepy Hollow). Explore
the 300-year-old manor house and farm where interpreters in period costume
demonstrate 18th-century tasks and skills.

Senate House (Kingston). In the
fall of 1777, New York's first Senate met in the simple stone house of merchant
Abraham Van Gaasbeek.

Sunnyside,
Washington Irving's Home (Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown). Visit the enchanting 1835 home of America's
first internationally-famous author, known for TheLegend of Sleepy Hollow,
Rip Van Winkle and other stories set in the region. Tours are led by
costumed guides.

US Military Academy
at West Point
(West Point). Walk the paths of generals on a guided tour
of the oldest military academy in the US. Highlights include the Cadet Chapel,
Hudson River views at Trophy Point, and a museum of military history and art.

Vanderbilt Mansion
National Historic Site (Hyde Park). Relive the Gilded Age at this historic
estate with magnificent gardens and sweeping river views.

FOOD & DRINK

Enjoy
celebrated Hudson Valley cuisine-from legendary country inns to the Culinary
Institute of America, the world's premier culinary college with five
award-winning restaurants. Visit the region's abundant farm markets, artisanal
cheese makers, and award-winning vineyards such as Brotherhood Winery in
Washingtonville. Wineries along the Dutchess and Shawangunk wine trails are
open year-round for tours, tasting and special events such as festivals and
wine-pairing dinners.

Visitors
to the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, in Sleepy Hollow, can tour
the sustainable farm, walk the trails, and dine on fresh local fare at the Blue
Hill Restaurant.

Guests at the Castle on the Hudson, in Tarrytown,
can dine
like royalty, with the option to spend the night in the authentic 100-year-old
medieval-style castle. The five-star dining room, Equus, has a worldwide
reputation for excellence. The chef, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of
America, creates an exciting menu using fresh local products.

SHOPPING

Follow
country roads to shop for fresh local produce and other culinary products, such
as artisan cheeses and fresh-baked bread, at farm markets and roadside stands
throughout the region.

The
historic Hudson Valley is also known for some of the nation's finest antique
hunting. The popular Rhinebeck Antiques Fair in July attracts hundreds of
antique dealers. Antique shops, galleries, and fine restaurants line the main
streets of charming villages such as Chatham, High Falls, Millbrook, Red Hook, Rhinebeck
and Valatie, and as well as the Hudson River towns of Beacon, Cold Spring,
Hudson, Nyack and Tarrytown.

At
Sugar Loaf Art & Craft Village, artists present their work in dozens of
shops and galleries within strolling distance of friendly cafés. New Paltz‘s
Water Street Market, on the banks of the Wallkill River near the Shawangunk
Mountain Ridge, is a European-inspired community of boutiques, antique shops,
galleries and restaurants.

Woodbury
Common Premium Outlets in Central
Valley (with more than 220 stores) boasts the world's largest collection of designer
outlets.

UNIQUE LODGING

The Mohonk Mountain House in New
Paltz, alakeside Victorian castle
surrounded by forests and winding trails, features elegant guestrooms, fine
dining, four-season sports and a sumptuous spa. Conde Nast Traveler named it one of the Top 20 large resorts in the
US. For a simpler stay, historic
Saugerties Lighthouse is now a sunny B&B with million dollar views.

Other
unique places to stay include:

The
Bird & Bottle Inn in Garrison,

The
Bricktown Inn in Haverstraw,

Buttermilk
Falls Inn & Spa in Milton,

Castle
on the Hudson in Tarrytown,

Cromwell
Manor Inn in Cornwall,

Glenmere
Mansion in Chester,

LePetit
Chateau Inn in Hyde Park,

Mount
Merino Manor in Hudson,

Newburgh/New
York City North KOA Kampground in Plattekill,

Pinegrove
Ranch & Family Resort in Kerhonkson, and

Rocking
Horse Ranch Resort in Highland.

OTHER SELECTED
ATTRACTIONS

Culinary Institute
of America (Hyde Park). Tour the world's premier culinary college.Make reservations to enjoy world-class
cuisine in one of the five award-winning restaurants, or register for a cooking
class.

Dutchess County Fairgrounds (Rhinebeck). Many events and shows, including the famous
Rhinebeck Crafts Festival, Rhinebeck Antiques Show, and Hudson Valley Wine
& Food Fest are held at the historic fairgrounds.

Hudson Cruises (Hudson). Take a
relaxing scenic river cruise aboard the 150-passenger paddlewheeler, Spirit of Hudson.

Hudson River Museum
(Yonkers).
Exhibits highlight Hudson River art, history and science in an historic
waterside home.

Mohonk Mountain
House (New
Paltz). This landmark resort, a 265-room Victorian castle, was built in 1869 at
the top of the Shawangunk Ridge. Surrounded by forests and winding trails, the
resort offers fine dining as well as activities like golf, swimming in Lake
Mohonk, hiking, and guided rock climbing.

Mohonk
Preserve (Gardiner). This sanctuary in the Shawangunk
Mountains offers hiking and biking along 70 miles of carriage roads and trails
on 6,500 acres. "The Gunks" are also a world-class rock climbing area.

Shawangunk
Mountains rock climbing. (New Paltz) "The Gunks," a world-class climbing area,
attract about 50,000 climbers annually. They were called the East Coast's
greatest climbing area by National Geographic.
Most
of the climbing cliffs are located on the Mohonk Preserve.

The Walkway Over
the Hudson
(Highland to Poughkeepsie). Stroll, wheel, bike or skate 212 feet above the
river on the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. A marvel of adaptive-use
architecture, the renovated railroad bridge offers thrilling vistas every step
of the way.